diff --git a/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/parser/OperatorParser.java b/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/parser/OperatorParser.java
index b30a0b3fa..756c372c9 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/parser/OperatorParser.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/parser/OperatorParser.java
@@ -951,6 +951,24 @@ static OperatorNode parseRequire(Parser parser) {
         } else if (token.text.matches("^v\\d+$")) {
             consume(parser);
             operand = StringParser.parseVstring(parser, token.text, parser.tokenIndex);
+        } else if (token.type == IDENTIFIER && !ParsePrimary.isIsQuoteLikeOperator(token.text)) {
+            // `require` bareword module name - parse directly without going through expression parser
+            // This avoids treating module names like "Encode" as subroutine calls when a sub
+            // with the same name exists in the current package (e.g., sub Encode in Image::ExifTool)
+            // But don't intercept quote-like operators like q(), qq(), etc.
+            String moduleName = IdentifierParser.parseSubroutineIdentifier(parser);
+            parser.ctx.logDebug("require module name `" + moduleName + "`");
+            if (moduleName == null) {
+                throw new PerlCompilerException(parser.tokenIndex, "Syntax error", parser.ctx.errorUtil);
+            }
+
+            // Check if module name starts with ::
+            if (moduleName.startsWith("::")) {
+                throw new PerlCompilerException(parser.tokenIndex, "Bareword in require must not start with a double-colon: \"" + moduleName + "\"", parser.ctx.errorUtil);
+            }
+
+            String fileName = NameNormalizer.moduleToFilename(moduleName);
+            operand = ListNode.makeList(new StringNode(fileName, parser.tokenIndex));
         } else {
             // Check for the specific pattern: :: followed by identifier (which is invalid for require)
             if (token.type == LexerTokenType.OPERATOR && token.text.equals("::")) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/parser/ParsePrimary.java b/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/parser/ParsePrimary.java
index 63f06e79f..8a8ff9f9e 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/parser/ParsePrimary.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/parser/ParsePrimary.java
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@ private static Node parseIdentifier(Parser parser, int startIndex, LexerToken to
         // IMPORTANT: Check for lexical subs AFTER CORE::, but before checking for quote-like operators!
         // This allows "my sub y" to shadow the "y///" transliteration operator
         // But doesn't interfere with CORE:: prefix handling
-        if (!calledWithCore) {
+        // ALSO: Don't treat as lexical sub if :: follows - that's a qualified name like Encode::is_utf8
+        if (!calledWithCore && !nextTokenText.equals("::")) {
             String lexicalKey = "&" + operator;
             SymbolTable.SymbolEntry lexicalEntry = parser.ctx.symbolTable.getSymbolEntry(lexicalKey);
             if (lexicalEntry != null && lexicalEntry.ast() instanceof OperatorNode) {